McKenzie targeted Hayden, would have taken him third

Oakland Raiders first round draft pick D.J. Hayden, left, a cornerback from Houston, holds his jersey with general manager Reggie McKenzie at a news conference at the team's training facility in Alameda, Calif., Friday, April 26, 2013. less

Oakland Raiders first round draft pick D.J. Hayden, left, a cornerback from Houston, holds his jersey with general manager Reggie McKenzie at a news conference at the team's training facility in Alameda, ... more

Photo: The Chronicle

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Raiders cornerback D.J. Hayden shows the scar from his surgery Nov. 6 after a near fatal collision at practice. Surgeons cracked open his chest to find a torn vein that pumps blood from the lower half of his body to his heart. less

Raiders cornerback D.J. Hayden shows the scar from his surgery Nov. 6 after a near fatal collision at practice. Surgeons cracked open his chest to find a torn vein that pumps blood from the lower half of his ... more

Cornerback D.J. Hayden, a 1st-round draft pick from Houston, works out at an Oakland Raiders mini-camp for rookies in Alameda, Calif. on Saturday, May 11, 2013.

Cornerback D.J. Hayden, a 1st-round draft pick from Houston, works out at an Oakland Raiders mini-camp for rookies in Alameda, Calif. on Saturday, May 11, 2013.

Photo: The Chronicle

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Tori Hayden, left, reacts as her son D.J. Hayden from Houston, right, receives a phone call from the Oakland Raiders telling him he was selected 12th overall in the NFL football draft at his house in Missouri City, Texas. less

Tori Hayden, left, reacts as her son D.J. Hayden from Houston, right, receives a phone call from the Oakland Raiders telling him he was selected 12th overall in the NFL football draft at his house in Missouri ... more

Photo: Associated Press

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Former University of Houston player D.J. Hayden, right, receives a hug from U of H team chaplain Mikado Hinson, left, after he was picked by the Oakland Raiders in the 2013 NFL draft at his house Thursday, April 25, 2013, in Missouri City. less

Former University of Houston player D.J. Hayden, right, receives a hug from U of H team chaplain Mikado Hinson, left, after he was picked by the Oakland Raiders in the 2013 NFL draft at his house Thursday, ... more

Photo: Houston Chronicle

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Former University of Houston player D.J. Hayden, right, talks to the media after he was picked by the Oakland Raiders in the 2013 NFL draft at his house Thursday, April 25, 2013, in Missouri City.

Former University of Houston player D.J. Hayden, right, talks to the media after he was picked by the Oakland Raiders in the 2013 NFL draft at his house Thursday, April 25, 2013, in Missouri City.

Photo: Houston Chronicle

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Former University of Houston player D.J. Hayden, left, hugs his mom, Tori Hayden, after he was picked by the Oakland Raiders in the 2013 NFL draft at his house Thursday, April 25, 2013, in Missouri City.

Former University of Houston player D.J. Hayden, left, hugs his mom, Tori Hayden, after he was picked by the Oakland Raiders in the 2013 NFL draft at his house Thursday, April 25, 2013, in Missouri City.

Photo: Houston Chronicle

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Former University of Houston player D.J. Hayden, center, stands with his mom, Tori Hayden, left, and father, Derek Hayden, right, after he was picked by the Oakland Raiders in the 2013 NFL draft at his house Thursday, April 25, 2013, in Missouri City. less

Former University of Houston player D.J. Hayden, center, stands with his mom, Tori Hayden, left, and father, Derek Hayden, right, after he was picked by the Oakland Raiders in the 2013 NFL draft at his house ... more

Photo: Houston Chronicle

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Former University of Houston player D.J. Hayden has a moment of silence as he receives a call from the Oakland Raiders as their pick for the 2013 NFL draft at his house Thursday, April 25, 2013, in Missouri City. less

Former University of Houston player D.J. Hayden has a moment of silence as he receives a call from the Oakland Raiders as their pick for the 2013 NFL draft at his house Thursday, April 25, 2013, in Missouri ... more

Photo: Houston Chronicle

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University of Houston's D.J. Hayden's hamstring cramps up on his second 40-yard dash as NFL scouts visit the UH campus to evaluate NFL eligible players, Monday, March 18, 2013, in Houston.

University of Houston's D.J. Hayden's hamstring cramps up on his second 40-yard dash as NFL scouts visit the UH campus to evaluate NFL eligible players, Monday, March 18, 2013, in Houston.

Photo: Chronicle

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Houston cornerback D.J. Hayden waves to the crowd after being recognized before a college football game against Tulane at Robertson Stadium, Saturday, Nov. 24, 2012, in Houston. Hayden had surgery to repair a tear in the main blood vessel that leads to the heart, an injury suffered when he collided with a teammate during practice earlier in the month. Behind Hayedn is his mother, Tori Hayden. less

Houston cornerback D.J. Hayden waves to the crowd after being recognized before a college football game against Tulane at Robertson Stadium, Saturday, Nov. 24, 2012, in Houston. Hayden had surgery to repair a ... more

Photo: Houston Chronicle

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Houston Fire Department paramedics Bobby Delgado, left, and Kevin Zigal, center, watch a video of the football hit that resulted in the injury of D.J. Hayden, right, shown during a reunion at HFD Station 18, 619 Telephone, Tuesday, April 23, 2013, in Houston. Hayden came to the station to thank those involved in saving his life. In November, during football practice at the University of Houston, he suffered a near-fatal heart injury. less

Houston Fire Department paramedics Bobby Delgado, left, and Kevin Zigal, center, watch a video of the football hit that resulted in the injury of D.J. Hayden, right, shown during a reunion at HFD Station 18, ... more

Photo: Houston Chronicle

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In this Nov. 24, 2012, photo, Houston players wear jerseys that all bear the name of cornerback D.J. Hayden as they kneel in prayer before a college football game against Tulane in Houston. Hayden had surgery to repair a tear in the main blood vessel that leads to the heart, an injury suffered when he collided with a teammate during practice. less

In this Nov. 24, 2012, photo, Houston players wear jerseys that all bear the name of cornerback D.J. Hayden as they kneel in prayer before a college football game against Tulane in Houston. Hayden had surgery ... more

Photo: Associated Press

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Houston cornerback D.J. Hayden, drafted 12th overall in the first round by the Oakland Raiders in the 2013 NFL draft.

Houston cornerback D.J. Hayden, drafted 12th overall in the first round by the Oakland Raiders in the 2013 NFL draft.

Photo: University of Houston

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Houston cornerback D.J. Hayden, drafted 12th overall in the first round by the Oakland Raiders in the 2013 NFL draft.

Houston cornerback D.J. Hayden, drafted 12th overall in the first round by the Oakland Raiders in the 2013 NFL draft.

Photo: University of Houston

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McKenzie targeted Hayden, would have taken him third

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A practice collision resulted in a torn vein in Houston cornerback D.J. Hayden’s heart and ended his 2012 season nine games in. Six months later, he is the No. 12 pick in the first round of the NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders.

The Raiders traded down from the No. 3 spot Thursday night and then picked a player they feel will be their No. 1 cornerback. Hayden was cleared medically at the NFL Combine and ran a 4.42 in the 40-yard dash at his pro day. He is 5-foot-11 1/2 and 191 pounds and had 61 tackles, 8 pass breakups and 4 interceptions.

“We targeted him,” Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie said. “To pick up an extra pick was a bonus. He can cover – point blank. We researched his heart condition and it became a non-issue.”

There is a 95 percent fatality rate with that injury, which is usually seen in car accidents.

“I have a whole new outlook on life,” Hayden said at the NFL combine. “All the stuff I took for granted, I don’t take for granted any more whether it’s family, friends, God – I’m cherishing every moment because you never know when your time is up.”

Hayden was Oakland’s first first-round pick since taking linebacker Rolando McClain eighth overall in 2010. The Raiders traded first rounders the past two years in deals for Richard Seymour and Palmer.

The Raiders signed veteran cornerbacks Tracy Porter and Mike Jenkins to one-year deals this offseason but were still looking for a long-term solution at cornerback. They couldn’t have enjoyed watching Thursday’s draft telecast.

Hayden played 22 games at Houston, intercepting six passes that he returned for three touchdowns. He also recovered three fumbles and forced six before his senior season was cut short by the injury.

McKenzie waited until the last minute when the Raiders were on the clock at No. 3 and was able to make the trade down he wanted to all long. Oakland traded the No. 3 pick to the Miami Dolphins for the No. 12 pick and the No. 42 pick in the second round.

McKenzie said the trade offers “dwindled” and he would have selected Hayden third overall if no offers that made sense came in.

The trade may not have been great value for the No. 3 pick but it was still a no-brainer for McKenzie. By adding the second-round pick, Oakland can fill their defensive tackle need in the second round Friday with someone like 340-pound Brandon Williams from Missouri Southern.

McKenzie was excited to pick in the first round after not picking until 95th overall last year in his first draft with Oakland.

Oakland went 4-12 in its first season under McKenzie and coach Dennis Allen after back-to-back 8-8 seasons the previous two years. Only three starters are returning from a defense that allowed the fifth most points in the NFL last season.